Good news, the bill was passed by a voice vote through the Assembly yesterday.Also, the amendment requiring shops to obtain an operators license was fixed/adjusted to reflect the fact that shops DO NOT need to obtain an additional liquor license of any kind to qualify for the operators license.

In essence, this means shops will only have to obtain the simple "bartenders" or operators license for employees whom will serve or oversee giving out samples at said shop.

The bill now goes to the Senate. It may require a hearing prior to going to the Senate floor, or it may go straight to the floor for a vote. Since it passed on a voice vote through the Assembly, and no one has registered opposition, it may go straight to vote.

on a side note, are homebrew competitions legal or not in Wisconsin? They did have a competition at the state fair this year didn't they? I'm confused.

It depends who you ask. On the one hand, the statutes are silent about it, and many communities have agreed to "look the other way". On the other hand, representatives from the State of Wisconsin have told homebrewers that in their conservative interpretation of the statutes, it seems illegal to serve homebrew anywhere outside of your own home. Personally, I think they're full of crap. It's totally wide open to interpretation. This is one of the biggest reasons we're basically forced into drafting up new statutes -- just so we can do what we've always been doing and what makes logical sense to any other human being on Earth besides the State.

Logged

Dave

"This is grain, which any fool can eat, but for which the Lord intended a more divine means of consumption. Let us give praise to our Maker, and glory to His bounty, by learning about... BEER!" - Friar Tuck (Robin Hood - Prince of Thieves)

That's great news Jake! The amendment clarifying that no Class A or B license is required to get the operators license for a homebrew shop is a major improvement to this legislation.

I also think that the bi-partisan support for AB 290 really bodes well for the bill that the Wisconsin Homebrewers Alliance has been working on. This may be a model to use in other states: start with a small business bill, that will be hard for legislators to oppose out of hand in the current political climate, use that to educate legislators about the homebrewing, then follow with a homebrewers rights bill.

Maddow was interviewing Rep. Cory Mason, a Democrat, and he was talking about how Wis Republicans were working on everything except jobs and he mentioned something about homebrewing and I think serving beer in brewshops. Not the greatest inference but you made it to TV!

Hey everyone, I just got notice that AB290 has a public hearing this Thursday (see details below).I'm planning on attending to testify in support.I'm also going to make some supportive remarks for the WIHBA's efforts.

Wish me luck!

Jake

------------------Committee on Energy, Biotechnology, and Consumer ProtectionThe committee will hold a public hearing on the following items at the time specified below:Thursday, November 17, 201110:00 AM330 SouthwestState Capitol

The Senate hearing went very very well!It's looking like it will pass through the Senate, and then onto the Governors desk.

David Mitchell from the Vine and Hop shop in Madison also showed up to testify in support and made some excellent points.

My impressions so far is that there is very strong, bi-partisan, and unified support for both this bill, and the efforts of the homebrewers.

Representative Dale Kooyenga who worked with NB to draft AB 290 said he is very interested in helping the WIHBA on any and all efforts of the "Homebrewer's Rigths" bill. I think he has built strong relationships, trust and consensus in both houses on the issues Homebrewers are facing in WI. His email: Rep.Kooyenga@legis.wisconsin.gov